Updating profiles for secondary wireless devices

ABSTRACT

Techniques to manage updates for eSIMs of a secondary wireless device are disclosed. Responsive to a user input, expiration of a timer, receipt of a message from an associated primary wireless device, processing circuitry of the secondary wireless device commands an eUICC to update an eSIM. A secure data connection is established between the eUICC and a network provisioning server, either directly from the secondary wireless device to a cellular wireless network or relayed indirectly via the primary wireless device. The eUICC and the network provisioning server exchange messages in accordance with a BIP process to update the eSIM. The eUICC provides a status to the processing circuitry indicating success or failure for the eSIM update. Upon success, a portion of the secondary wireless device may be placed in a reduced power state. Upon failure, the eSIM update process may repeat up to a maximum number of retries.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/612,986, entitled “UPDATING PROFILES FOR SECONDARY WIRELESS DEVICES,”filed Jun. 2, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety for all purposes.

FIELD

The described embodiments set forth techniques for updating electronicSubscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs) on embedded Universal IntegratedCircuit Cards (eUICCs) included in cellular capable secondary wirelessdevices associated with a primary wireless device.

BACKGROUND

Many wireless devices are configured to use removable UniversalIntegrated Circuit Cards (UICCs) that enable the wireless devices toaccess services provided by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). Inparticular, each UICC includes at least a microprocessor and a read-onlymemory (ROM), where the ROM is configured to store an MNO profile thatthe wireless device can use to register and interact with an MNO toobtain wireless services via a wireless network. Typically, a UICC takesthe form of a small removable card, (commonly referred to as aSubscriber Identity Module (SIM) card), which is configured to beinserted into a UICC-receiving bay included in a wireless device. Inmore recent implementations, UICCs are being embedded directly intosystem boards of wireless devices. These embedded UICCs (eUICCs) canprovide several advantages over traditional, removable UICCs. Forexample, some eUICCs include a rewritable memory that can facilitateinstallation, modification, and/or deletion of one or more eSIMs, whichcan provide for new and/or different services and/or updates foraccessing extended features provided by MNOs. An eUICC can store anumber of MNO profiles—also referred to herein as eSIMs—and caneliminate the need to include UICC-receiving bays in wireless devices.Moreover, eSIMs on eUICCs can be remotely managed from network serverscommunicating through mobile device processors to an eUICC of the mobiledevice.

Methods for managing eSIMs of mobile devices include both MNO-centricapproaches, involving network equipment of an MNO, such as aprovisioning server, communicating directly with an eUICC of a mobiledevice through an over-the-air (OTA) secure channel, and device-centricapproaches, involving a processor of the mobile device initiating and/orparticipating in the management of eSIMs on the eUICC of the mobiledevice.

SUMMARY

Representative embodiments set forth techniques for managing updates ofelectronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs) of a secondary wirelessdevice that is associated with a primary wireless device. Processingcircuitry external to an embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card(eUICC) included in the secondary wireless device initiates an eSIMupdate check when data connectivity is available either directly by thesecondary wireless device or indirectly via the primary wireless deviceto a cellular wireless network. An eSIM update process can be initiatedbased on a user input to the secondary wireless device or to the primarywireless device. The eSIM update process can also be initiated basedexpiration of a timer without user input. The processing circuitryprovides a command to the eUICC to trigger an applet to check for aneSIM update. In response to the command, the eUICC requests a securedata connection, which is established between the eUICC of the secondarywireless device and a network provisioning server of the cellularwireless network. In some embodiments, the secure data connectionincludes a cellular wireless connection directly from the secondarywireless device to the cellular wireless network. In some embodiments,the secure data connection includes a non-cellular wireless connectionto the primary wireless device and a cellular wireless connection fromthe primary wireless device to the cellular wireless network. The eUICCrequests an eSIM update from the provisioning server and obtains theeSIM update in response in accordance with a Bearer Independent Protocol(BIP). The eUICC provides a message that indicates a status of the eSIMupdate, and when the eSIM update succeeds, the processing circuitry ofthe secondary wireless device causes the secondary wireless device toenter a reduced power state. When the eSIM update fails, the processingcircuitry repeats the eSIM update process until the eSIM update succeedsor a maximum number of retries occurs.

This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some exampleembodiments so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects ofthe subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciatedthat the above-described features are merely examples and should not beconstrued to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter describedherein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of thesubject matter described herein will become apparent from the followingDetailed Description, Figures, and Claims.

Other aspects and advantages of the embodiments described herein willbecome apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way ofexample, the principles of the described embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The included drawings are for illustrative purposes and serve only toprovide examples of possible structures and arrangements for thedisclosed inventive apparatuses and methods for providing wirelesscomputing devices. These drawings in no way limit any changes in formand detail that may be made to the embodiments by one skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments. Theembodiments will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate like structural elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of different components of anexemplary system configured to implement the various techniquesdescribed herein, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a more detailed view of exemplarycomponents of the system of FIG. 1, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary message exchange to provide an eSIMupdate for a secondary wireless device, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates another exemplary message exchange to provide an eSIMupdate for the secondary wireless device in conjunction with anassociated primary wireless device, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary method for providingeSIM updates directly to the secondary wireless device, according tosome embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram of another exemplary method forproviding eSIM updates indirectly to the secondary wireless device viathe associated primary wireless device, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed view of a representative computing devicethat can be used to implement various methods described herein,according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Representative applications of apparatuses and methods according to thepresently described embodiments are provided in this section. Theseexamples are being provided solely to add context and aid in theunderstanding of the described embodiments. It will thus be apparent toone skilled in the art that the presently described embodiments can bepracticed without some or all of these specific details. In otherinstances, well known process steps have not been described in detail inorder to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presently describedembodiments. Other applications are possible, such that the followingexamples should not be taken as limiting.

In accordance with various embodiments described herein, the terms“wireless communication device,” “wireless device,” “mobile device,”“mobile station,” and “user equipment” (UE) may be used interchangeablyherein to describe one or more common consumer electronic devices thatmay be capable of performing procedures associated with variousembodiments of the disclosure. In accordance with variousimplementations, any one of these consumer electronic devices may relateto: a cellular phone or a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptopcomputer, a notebook computer, a personal computer, a netbook computer,a media player device, an electronic book device, a MiFi® device, awearable computing device, as well as any other type of electroniccomputing device having wireless communication capability that caninclude communication via one or more wireless communication protocolssuch as used for communication on: a wireless wide area network (WWAN),a wireless metro area network (WMAN) a wireless local area network(WLAN), a wireless personal area network (WPAN), a near fieldcommunication (NFC), a cellular wireless network, a fourth generation(4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A), and/or fifthgeneration (5G) or other present or future developed advanced cellularwireless networks.

The wireless communication device, in some embodiments, can also operateas part of a wireless communication system, which can include a set ofclient devices, which can also be referred to as stations, clientwireless devices, or client wireless communication devices,interconnected to an access point (AP), e.g., as part of a WLAN, and/orto each other, e.g., as part of a WPAN and/or an “ad hoc” wirelessnetwork. In some embodiments, the client device can be any wirelesscommunication device that is capable of communicating via a WLANtechnology, e.g., in accordance with a wireless local area networkcommunication protocol. In some embodiments, the WLAN technology caninclude a Wi-Fi (or more generically a WLAN) wireless communicationsubsystem or radio, the Wi-Fi radio can implement an Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 technology, such asone or more of: IEEE 802.11a; IEEE 802.11b; IEEE 802.11g; IEEE802.11-2007; IEEE 802.11n; IEEE 802.11-2012; IEEE 802.11ac; or otherpresent or future developed IEEE 802.11 technologies.

Additionally, it should be understood that some UEs described herein maybe configured as multi-mode wireless communication devices that are alsocapable of communicating via different third generation (3G) and/orsecond generation (2G) RATs. In these scenarios, a multi-mode userequipment (UE) can be configured to prefer attachment to LTE networksoffering faster data rate throughput, as compared to other 3G legacynetworks offering lower data rate throughputs. For instance, in someimplementations, a multi-mode UE may be configured to fall back to a 3Glegacy network, e.g., an Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+)network or a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000 Evolution-DataOnly (EV-DO) network, when LTE and LTE-A networks are otherwiseunavailable.

Representative embodiments of methods and apparatus presented hereinprovide for updating electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs),which can also be referred to as embedded SIMS or as profiles, of anembedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) of a secondarywireless device. eSIM profiles can be provisioned and activated using aBearer Independent Protocol (BIP) by the eUICC of the secondary wirelessdevice interacting with a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) networkprovisioning server using a secure over-the-air (OTA) data connection.Activation of the eSIM can enable the secondary wireless device toaccess wireless services subscribed to by a user of the secondarywireless device. Following initial provisioning and activation, the eSIMmay require updating, such as when changes to a wireless network serviceoccurs, when the user changes a subscription, when updating a mobiledirectory number (MDN), or when updating credentials of the eSIM thatprovide for authentication and/or access to services of a cellularwireless network. Updating of the eSIM can be based on a user-initiatedBIP process, such as when a user selects to check for an update via aninput of the secondary wireless device (or via an input of an associatedprimary wireless device), or based on a network-initiated BIP process.While most cellular wireless devices are camped on, attached to,connected with, registered for service with, or otherwise associatedwith a cellular wireless network for most of the time, a new category ofcellular wireless devices includes those cellular wireless devices thatmay be disconnected or de-registered from the cellular wireless networkfor most of the time and infrequently connected to or registered forservice with the cellular wireless network. Providing eSIM updates toinfrequently connected wireless devices, such as to secondary wirelessdevices that connect with cellular wireless networks directly some ofthe time and connect via an associated primary wireless device at othertimes, requires adjusting BIP processes to account for infrequentconnections.

As the secondary wireless device may not be registered with a cellularwireless network all of the time, a network-initiated BIP process, suchas by the cellular wireless network contacting the secondary wirelessdevice using a short message service (SMS) may not reliably provide foran OTA update of an eSIM of the secondary wireless device. Whilecellular wireless devices that are normally attached to or connectedwith a cellular wireless network can reliably receive an SMS message toinitiate an OTA eSIM update, a secondary cellular wireless device thatinfrequently attaches to or connects with the cellular wireless networkmay not connect often enough to receive the OTA eSIM update. Connectingmore frequently can consume more battery power and thus may be notpreferred for secondary wireless devices with limited battery powerresources. In some embodiments, a secondary wireless device can bede-registered from service with the cellular wireless network, or theeSIM of the secondary wireless device can be disabled or otherwise notusable at times to conserve power or to limit direct cellular wirelessconnections with the cellular wireless network. A device-initiated BIPprocess may also be unreliable, such as when an applet of an eUICC ofthe secondary wireless device is unaware of whether a data connectionfor the secondary wireless device is available. The applet can attemptto check for eSIM updates repeatedly when no data connection isavailable and exhaust all retries available. In addition, withoutknowledge of a status of an eSIM update BIP process, processingcircuitry of the secondary wireless device can be unaware of when theeSIM update BIP process has completed successfully or failed and canremain awake and thus be unable to enter a reduced power state toconserve limited battery resources.

Responsive to a user-initiated action, e.g., an input to check for aneSIM update, processing circuitry of the secondary wireless device candetermine whether data connectivity is available to establish a securedata connection with a network provisioning server via the cellularwireless network. Alternatively, without user input, such as based onexpiration of a timer and/or when connected to an external power source,the processing circuitry can autonomously determine whether dataconnectivity is available (or can cause registration or otherwise attachthe secondary wireless device to a cellular wireless network) to allowfor eSIM update checking to occur. When data connectivity is available,the processing circuitry can initiate an eSIM update process by sendingcommand to the eUICC of the secondary wireless device to trigger anapplet on the eUICC to check for eSIM updates. In response to thecommand, the eUICC requests a secure data connection, which isestablished between the eUICC of the secondary wireless device and anetwork provisioning server of the cellular wireless network. In someembodiments, the secure data connection includes a cellular wirelessconnection directly from the secondary wireless device to the cellularwireless network. In some embodiments, the secure data connectionincludes a non-cellular wireless connection to an associated primarywireless device and a cellular wireless connection from the primarywireless device to the cellular wireless network. The eUICC requests aneSIM update from the provisioning server and obtains the eSIM update inresponse in accordance with a Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP). TheeUICC provides to the processing circuitry a message that indicates astatus of the eSIM update, and when the eSIM update succeeds, theprocessing circuitry of the secondary wireless device causes thesecondary wireless device to enter a reduced power state, in someembodiments. When the eSIM update fails, the processing circuitryrepeats the eSIM update process until the eSIM update succeeds or amaximum number of retries occurs.

In some embodiments, when the secondary wireless device is paired with aprimary wireless device, the primary wireless device can receive anotification to trigger an eSIM update. The notification can bedelivered to the primary wireless device via an Apple Push NotificationService (APNS). In response to receipt of the notification, the primarywireless device can send a message to the secondary wireless device tocommand the secondary wireless device to perform the eSIM updateprocess. The secondary wireless device can request a secure dataconnection to a network provisioning server of a cellular wirelessnetwork in order to perform the eSIM update. The secure data connectioncan be established between the eUICC of the secondary wireless device asa relayed connection through the primary wireless device, including anOTA cellular wireless connection between the primary wireless device andthe cellular wireless network and a non-cellular wireless connectionbetween the primary wireless device and the secondary wireless device.The eSIM update process can use a BIP process and can end uponsuccessful completion of the BIP process, which can be indicated by theeUICC to the processing circuitry in a status message. The eSIM updateprocess can also end when a maximum number of retries to complete theBIP process occurs, such as when successive failures of the BIP processare reported in status messages from the eUICC. Upon completion, theprocessing circuitry of the secondary wireless device can request thatthe secure data connection be brought down to conserve battery power.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS.1 through 7; however, those skilled in the art will readily appreciatethat the detailed description given herein with respect to these figuresis for explanatory purposes only and should not be construed aslimiting.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of different components of a system100 that is configured to implement the various techniques describedherein, according to some embodiments. More specifically, FIG. 1illustrates a high-level overview of the system 100, which, as shown,includes a wireless device 102, a group of base stations 112 that aremanaged by different Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) 114, and a set ofprovisioning servers 116 that are in communication with the MNOs 114.According to the illustration of FIG. 1, the wireless device 102 canrepresent a mobile computing device (e.g., an iPhone®, an iPad®, or anApple Watch® by Apple®), the base stations 112 can represent differentradio towers that are configured to communicate with the wireless device102, and the MNOs 114 can represent different wireless service providersthat provide specific services (e.g., voice and data) to which thewireless device 102 can be subscribed. In some embodiments, the wirelessdevice 102 is a secondary wireless device that is associated withanother wireless device 102, which can be referred to as a primarywireless device. For example, the secondary wireless device can be awrist wearable device that pairs with a smart phone that serves as theprimary wireless device. The secondary wireless device can share atleast some of wireless services to which a user of the primary wirelessdevice subscribes. In some embodiments, the secondary wireless devicecan form direct cellular wireless connections with a cellular wirelessnetwork. In some embodiments, the secondary wireless device uses directcellular wireless connections only when indirect non-cellular wirelessconnections via the primary wireless device are not available, such aswhen the secondary wireless device is separated at a sufficient distancefrom the primary wireless device that a non-cellular wireless connectionto the primary wireless device cannot be established.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless device 102 can include processingcircuitry, which can include one or more processors 104 and a memory106, an eUICC 108, and a baseband component 110. These components workin conjunction to enable the wireless device 102 to provide usefulfeatures to a user of the wireless device 102, such as localizedcomputing, location based services, and Internet connectivity. The eUICC108 can be configured to store multiple eSIMs for accessing thedifferent MNOs 114 through the base stations 112. For example, the eUICC108 can be configured to store and manage one or more eSIMs for one ormore MNOs 114 for different subscriptions to which the wireless device102 is associated. To be able to access services provided by the MNOs,an eSIM is provisioned to the eUICC 108. In addition, eSIMs stored onthe eUICC 108 can be updated, modified, enabled, disabled, and/ordeleted via communication between the eUICC 108 of the wireless device102 and applicable network equipment, such as the provisioning servers116 (or other equivalent or similar network-based eSIM managemententities, such as a Subscription Manager-Data Preparation (SM-DP) unit).In some embodiments, eSIMs are pre-stored in the eUICC 108 in a disabledstate, and during a provisioning process, the eUICC 108 obtains MNOcredentials (e.g., keys, etc.), service information (e.g., carrierinformation, services subscribed to), and/or other information, and usesthis information to enable the eSIM. In some embodiments, eSIMs are notpre-stored in the eUICC 108, and the eUICC 108 obtains one or more eSIMsfrom one or more associated provisioning servers 116. It is noted thatprovisioning servers 116 can be maintained by a manufacturer of thewireless device 102, the MNOs 114, third party entities, and the like.Communication of eSIM data between a network provisioning server 116 andthe eUICC 108 can use a secure data communication channel, over which aseries of commands between the network provisioning server 116 and theeUICC 108 results in provisioning (or other management such as updating)of an eSIM to (or on) the eUICC 108. In some embodiments, the eSIM datais communicated via the processing circuitry, e.g., the processor 104,of the wireless device 102. In some embodiments, the eSIM data iscommunicated to the processor 104 of the wireless device 102 for loadingto and/or installing in the eUICC 108 while connected to the networkprovisioning server 116. In some embodiments, eSIM data is communicatedto the processor 104 for subsequent loading to and/or installing in theeUICC 108 without a parallel connection to the provisioning serverand/or secure through connection between the provisioning server and theeUICC 108 during the loading and/or installation process, e.g., using anoffline process. Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, the wireless device102 can also be configured to include a receiving bay for a removableUICC (e.g., a SIM card), on which an eSIM can be updated in a similarmanner using the techniques described herein. In some embodiments, theeSIM data for the eUICC 108 of the wireless device 102, e.g., of asecondary wireless device, is communicated via another wireless device102, e.g., via a primary wireless device, that forms a cellular wirelessconnection to the network provisioning server 116 as a relayedconnection between the eUICC 108 of the secondary wireless devicethrough the primary wireless device to the network provisioning server116.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a more detailed view 200 ofparticular components of the wireless device 102 of FIG. 1, according tosome embodiments. As shown in FIG. 2, the processor(s) 104, inconjunction with the memory 106, can implement a main operating system(OS) 202 that is configured to execute applications 204 (e.g., native OSapplications and user applications). As also shown in FIG. 2, the eUICC108 can be configured to implement an eUICC OS 206 that is configured tomanage the hardware resources of the eUICC 108 (e.g., a processor and amemory embedded in the eUICC 108). The eUICC OS 206 can also beconfigured to manage eSIMs 208 that are stored by the eUICC 108, e.g.,by enabling, disabling, modifying, or otherwise performing management ofthe eSIMs 208 within the eUICC 108 and providing the baseband component110 with access to the eSIMs 208 to provide access to wireless servicesfor the wireless device 102. The eUICC 108 OS can include an eSIMmanager 210, which in some embodiments can be an Issue Security Domain(ISD) level application, a “security domain” in accordance with aGlobalPlatform specification, a security domain associated with one ormore eSIMs and that calls additional eUICC OS installation services,and/or an application that implements a specific set of securityservices, e.g., for establishing and managing a secure channel and/or toprovide encryption/decryption functions. The eSIM manager 210 canperform management functions for various eSIMs, such as coordinatingwith a baseband component 110 to establish a secure data connection to anetwork provisioning server 116, checking for eSIM updates, andobtaining and installing eSIM updates on the eUICC 108 as describedfurther herein. According to the illustration shown in FIG. 2, each eSIM208 can include a number of applets 212 that define the manner in whichthe eSIM 208 operates. For example, one or more of the applets 212, whenimplemented by the baseband component 110 and the eUICC 108, can beconfigured to enable the wireless device 102 to communicate with an MNO114 and provide useful features (e.g., phone calls and internet) to auser of the wireless device 102. An applet 212 can also provide formanagement of an eSIM 208, such as checking for, obtaining, andinstalling eSIM updates.

As also shown in FIG. 2, the baseband component 110 of the wirelessdevice 102 can include a baseband OS 214 that is configured to managehardware resources of the baseband component 110 (e.g., a processor, amemory, different radio components, etc.). According to someembodiments, the baseband component 110 can implement a manager 216 thatis configured to interface with the eUICC 108 to implement varioustechniques described herein, which can include establishing a securechannel with a network provisioning server 116 and obtaining information(such as eSIM data) from the network provisioning server 116 forpurposes of managing eSIMs 208, including but not limited toprovisioning, loading, installing, adding, modifying, updating,deleting, or performing other management operations for one or moreeSIMs 208. As also shown in FIG. 2, the manager 216 can be configured toimplement services 218, which represents a collection of softwaremodules that are instantiated by way of the various applets 212 ofenabled eSIMs 208 that are included in the eUICC 108. For example,services 218 can be configured to manage different connections betweenthe wireless device 102 and MNOs 114 according to the different eSIMs208 that are enabled within the eUICC 108.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram 300 of an exemplary message exchange toprovide eSIM updates to a secondary wireless device 302, according tosome embodiments. At 304, a processor 104 of the secondary wirelessdevice 302 initiates a process to check for updates for eSIMs of theeUICC 108 of the secondary wireless device 302. In some embodiments, theeSIM update process can be initiated based on a user triggered action,such as an input to the secondary wireless device 302 (or to anassociated primary wireless device). In some embodiments, the eSIMupdate process can be initiated autonomously by the processor 104 of thesecondary wireless device 302 without user input, such as based onexpiration of a timer and/or based on whether the secondary wirelessdevice 302 is connected to an external power source, such as via amagnetically coupled charger to a wrist wearable device. In someembodiments, the processor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302checks for eSIM updates at least once per a predetermined time interval,such as once per day while connected to the external power source. Insome embodiments, the eSIM update process proceeds only when dataconnectivity is available for the secondary wireless device 302, such aswhen an eSIM 208 of the eUICC 108 is enabled or activated, and/or whenthe secondary wireless device 302 is registered for service with acellular wireless network. In some embodiments, the eSIM update processproceeds only when no more than a maximum number of retries to check foreSIM updates has occurred within a predetermined time period. When theeSIM update process proceeds, at 306, the processor 104 of the secondarywireless device 302 sends a message to the eUICC to trigger anassociated applet 212 of the eSIM 208 to check for eSIM updates. In someembodiments, the applet 212 of the eSIM 208 is triggered based on theprocessor 104 sending to the eUICC 108 an application protocol data unit(APDU) command to check for eSIM updates. At 308, the eUICC 108 sends amessage to the processor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302, themessage including (or indicating) a request to establish a secure dataconnection, via a cellular wireless network, between the eUICC 108 and anetwork provisioning server 116 of the cellular wireless network. Insome embodiments, the processor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302communicates with a baseband component 110 to establish a cellularwireless connection to the cellular wireless network. In someembodiments, the processor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302causes the baseband component 110 to awake from a power reduced stateand establish the cellular wireless connection with the cellularwireless network. At 310, the processor 104 establishes a secure dataconnection between the network provisioning server 116 and the eUICC 108of the secondary wireless device 302 using a cellular wirelessconnection via the cellular wireless network. After the secure dataconnection is established, at 312, the eUICC 108 communicates with thenetwork provisioning server 116 to request an eSIM update. In someembodiments, the communication between the eUICC 108 and the networkprovisioning server 116 includes messages in accordance with a BearerIndependent Protocol (BIP) transaction process. At 314, the networkprovisioning server 116 responds to the eSIM update request with aresponse that includes an eSIM update for the eSIM 208 of the eUICC 108of the secondary wireless device 302. In some embodiments, the requestsand responses for the eSIM update includes multiple messagescommunicated between the eUICC and the network provisioning server 116to obtain/retrieve the eSIM update. At 316, the eUICC 108 provides tothe processor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302 a status messagethat indicates whether the eSIM update process succeeded or failed. At318, the processor 104 determines whether the eSIM update process wassuccessful based at least in part on the message from status messagereceived from the eUICC 108. When the eSIM update process succeeds, at320, the processor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302 can causeone or more modules of the secondary wireless device to enter a powerreduced state. In some embodiments, the processor 104 of the secondarywireless device 302 causes the baseband component 110 to bring down thecellular data connection and subsequently enter a reduced power state,when the eSIM update process successfully completed. When the eSIMupdate process fails, the processor 104 of the secondary wireless device302 can cause the eSIM update process to repeat until success occurs oruntil a maximum number of retries occurs. In some embodiments,repetition of the eSIM update process includes one or more of triggeringthe applet 212 of the eSIM 208 of the eUICC 108, establishing the securedata connection between the eUICC 108 and the network provisioningserver 116 responsive to a connection request form the eUICC 108,retrieval of an eSIM update from the network provisioning server 116 bythe eUICC 108 via the secure data connection, and reporting of thestatus of the eSIM update process to the processor 104 of the secondarywireless device 302.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram 400 of another exemplary message exchangeto provide eSIM updates for a secondary wireless device 302 associatedwith a primary wireless device 402, according to some embodiments. Insome embodiments, the eSIM update process illustrated in FIG. 4 occurswhen the secondary wireless device 302 is in proximity of the primarywireless device 402 such that a non-cellular wireless connection betweenthe secondary wireless device 302 and the primary wireless device 402exists (or can be established by the primary wireless device 402). At404, the primary wireless device 404 receives a notification that aneSIM update for an eSIM 208 of the eUICC 108 of the secondary wirelessdevice 302 is available. In some embodiments, the primary wirelessdevice 402 receives the notification as an Apple Push NotificationService (APNS) message sent to the primary wireless device 402 totrigger the eSIM update process. At 406, the primary wireless device 402sends a message to the processor 104 of the secondary wireless device302 to indicate availability of the eSIM update for the eSIM 208 of theeUICC 108 of the secondary wireless device 302. In some embodiments, thenotification received by the primary wireless device 402 and/or themessage sent to the processor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302includes an APDU command for the processor 104 to send to the eUICC 108of the secondary wireless device 302 to initiate the eSIM updateprocess. At 408, the processor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302initiates the eSIM update process. In some embodiments, the eSIM updateprocess is initiated conditionally based on whether a maximum number ofretries of the eSIM update process has occurred within a predeterminedtime period. When the eSIM update process proceeds, at 410, theprocessor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302 sends a message tothe eUICC 108 of the secondary wireless device 302 to trigger an applet212 of the eSIM 208 of the eUICC 108 to update the eSIM 208. At 412, theeUICC 108 sends a message to the processor 104 of the secondary wirelessdevice 302, the message including (or indicating) a request to establisha secure data connection, via a cellular wireless network, between theeUICC 108 and a network provisioning server 116 of the cellular wirelessnetwork. At 414, the processor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302sends a message to the primary wireless device 402 forwarding therequest to establish the secure data connection to the networkprovisioning server 116. At 416, the primary wireless device 402establishes a secure data connection to the network provisioning server116, where the secure data connection traverses a cellular wirelessconnection between the primary wireless device 402 and a cellularwireless network and a non-cellular wireless connection between theprimary wireless device 402 and the secondary wireless device 302. Insome embodiments, the secure data connection is a secure tunneled OTAconnection between the eUICC 108 of the secondary wireless device 302and the network provisioning server 116 via the primary wireless device402, where the processor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302 aswell as the primary wireless device 402 act as conduits forcommunication of messages between the eUICC 108 and the networkprovisioning server 116, with limited if any access to reading themessages.

After the secure data connection is established, at 418, the eUICC 108communicates with the network provisioning server 116 to request an eSIMupdate. In some embodiments, the communication between the eUICC 108 ofthe secondary wireless device 302 and the network provisioning server116 includes messages in accordance with a Bearer Independent Protocol(BIP) transaction process. At 420, the network provisioning server 116responds to the eSIM update request with a response that includes aneSIM update for the eSIM 208 of the eUICC 108 of the secondary wirelessdevice 302. In some embodiments, the requests and responses for the eSIMupdate includes multiple messages communicated between the eUICC and thenetwork provisioning server 116 to obtain/retrieve the eSIM update. At422, the eUICC 108 provides to the processor 104 of the secondarywireless device 302 a status message that indicates whether the eSIMupdate process succeeded or failed. At 424, the processor 104 of thesecondary wireless device 302 determines whether the eSIM update processwas successful based at least in part on the message from status messagereceived from the eUICC 108. When the eSIM update process succeeds, at426, the processor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302 canoptionally cause one or more modules of the secondary wireless device toenter a power reduced state. In some embodiments, the processor 104 ofthe secondary wireless device 302 can optionally cause the basebandcomponent 110 to bring down the cellular data connection andsubsequently enter a reduced power state, after the eSIM update processsuccessfully completes. When the eSIM update process fails, theprocessor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302 can cause the eSIMupdate process to repeat until success occurs or until a maximum numberof retries occurs. In some embodiments, repetition of the eSIM updateprocess includes one or more of triggering the applet 212 of the eSIM208 of the eUICC 108, establishing the secure data connection betweenthe eUICC 108 and the network provisioning server 116 responsive to aconnection request form the eUICC 108, retrieval of an eSIM update fromthe network provisioning server 116 by the eUICC 108 via the secure dataconnection, and reporting of the status of the eSIM update process tothe processor 104 of the secondary wireless device 302.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram 500 of an exemplary method forproviding eSIM updates directly to the secondary wireless device 302from the network provisioning server 116. At 502, processing circuitry,e.g., processor 104, of the secondary wireless device 302 sends to theeUICC 108 of the secondary wireless device 302 a command to trigger anapplet 212 associated with an eSIM 208 of the eUICC 108. The applet 212can initiate a process to check for updates and/or to update the eSIM208. At 504, the processor 104 receives from the eUICC 108 a request toestablish a secure data connection to the network provisioning server116. At 506, the processor 104 causes the secondary wireless device 302to establish the secure data connection to the network provisioningserver 116. After establishment of the secure data connection, the eUICC108 and the network provisioning server 116 communicate directly witheach other, such as using a Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP) process toexchange messages (e.g., requests and responses) that provide forupdating the eSIM 208 of the eUICC 108. At 508, the processor 104receives from the eUICC 108 an eSIM update status message. At 510, whenthe eSIM update status message indicates that the eSIM update processsucceeded, the processor 104 causes at least a portion of the secondarywireless device 302 to enter a power reduced state. Further at 510, whenthe eSIM update status messages indicates that the eSIM update processfailed, the processor 104 causes the eSIM update process to repeat untilsuccess occurs or until a maximum number of retries occurs.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow diagram 600 of another exemplary method forproviding eSIM updates indirectly to the secondary wireless device 302via a primary wireless device 402 from the network provisioning server116. At 602, processing circuitry of the secondary wireless device 302,e.g., processor 104, receives from the primary wireless device 402 anotification indicating an eSIM update for an eSIM 208 of the eUICC 108of the secondary wireless device 302. In some embodiments, the primarywireless device 402 sends the notification to the secondary wirelessdevice 302 responsive to receipt of a message, e.g., an Apple PushNotification Service (APNS) message, to trigger an eSIM update processfor the eSIM 208 of the eUICC 108 of the secondary wireless device 302.At 604, the processor 104 sends to the eUICC 108 of the secondarywireless device 302 a command to trigger an applet 212 on the eUICC 108.At 606, the processor 104 receives from the eUICC 108 a request toestablish a secure data connection to the network provisioning server116. At 608, the processor 104 sends to the primary wireless device 402a request for the secure data connection to be established between theeUICC 108 and the network provisioning server 116. After establishmentof the secure data connection, the eUICC 108 and the networkprovisioning server 116 communicate directly with each other, such asusing a Bearer Independent Protocol (BIP) process to exchange messages(e.g., requests and responses) that provide for updating the eSIM 208 ofthe eUICC 108. At 610, the processor 104 receives from the eUICC 108 aneSIM update status message. At 612, when the eSIM update status messagesindicates that the eSIM update process failed, the processor 104 causesthe eSIM update process to repeat until success occurs or until amaximum number of retries occurs. At 614, when the eSIM update statusmessage indicates that the eSIM update process succeeded, optionally insome embodiments, the processor 104 causes at least a portion of thesecondary wireless device 302 to enter a power reduced state.

FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed view of a representative computing device700 that can be used to implement various methods described herein,according to some embodiments. In particular, the detailed viewillustrates various components that can be included in the wirelessdevice 102 illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 7, the computingdevice 700 can include a processor 702 that represents a microprocessoror controller for controlling the overall operation of computing device700. The computing device 700 can also include a user input device 708that allows a user of the computing device 700 to interact with thecomputing device 700. For example, the user input device 708 can take avariety of forms, such as a button, keypad, dial, touch screen, audioinput interface, visual/image capture input interface, input in the formof sensor data, etc. Still further, the computing device 700 can includea display 710 (screen display) that can be controlled by the processor702 to display information to the user. A data bus 716 can facilitatedata transfer between at least a storage device 740, the processor 702,and a controller 713. The controller 713 can be used to interface withand control different equipment through and equipment control bus 714.The computing device 700 can also include a network/bus interface 711that couples to a data link 712. In the case of a wireless connection,the network/bus interface 711 can include a wireless transceiver.

The computing device 700 also includes a storage device 740, which cancomprise a single disk or a plurality of disks (e.g., hard drives), andincludes a storage management module that manages one or more partitionswithin the storage device 740. In some embodiments, storage device 740can include flash memory, semiconductor (solid state) memory or thelike. The computing device 700 can also include a Random Access Memory(RAM) 720 and a Read-Only Memory (ROM) 722. The ROM 722 can storeprograms, utilities or processes to be executed in a non-volatilemanner. The RAM 720 can provide volatile data storage, and storesinstructions related to the operation of the computing device 700. Thecomputing device 700 can further include a secure element 750, which canrepresent the eUICC 108 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 and described indetail herein.

The various aspects, embodiments, implementations or features of thedescribed embodiments can be used separately or in any combination.Software, hardware, or a combination of hardware and software canimplement various aspects of the described embodiments. The describedembodiments can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computerreadable medium. The computer readable medium is any data storage devicethat can store data, which can thereafter be read by a computer system.Examples of the computer readable medium include read-only memory,random-access memory, CD-ROMs, DVDs, magnetic tape, hard disk drives,solid state drives, and optical data storage devices. The computerreadable medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computersystems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in adistributed fashion.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specificnomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the describedembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe specific details are not required in order to practice the describedembodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodimentsare presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to theprecise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill inthe art that many modifications and variations are possible in view ofthe above teachings.

1. A wireless device configured for updating electronic SubscriberIdentity Modules (eSIMs) of an embedded Universal Integrated CircuitCard (eUICC) included in the wireless device, the wireless devicecomprising: wireless circuitry comprising one or more antennas; theeUICC; and processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the wirelesscircuitry and external to the eUICC, the processing circuitry comprisingone or more processors and a memory storing instructions that, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, cause the processing circuitryto: perform an eSIM update process that includes: sending, to the eUICC,a command to trigger an eSIM update applet on the eUICC; receiving, fromthe eUICC, a request to establish a secure data connection to a networkprovisioning server; establishing the secure data connection between theeUICC and the network provisioning server; and receiving, from theeUICC, an eSIM update status; and repeat the eSIM update process untilthe eSIM update status indicates success or a maximum number of retriesoccurs.
 2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein execution of theinstructions further causes the processing circuitry to enter a reducedpower state when the eSIM update status indicates success.
 3. Thewireless device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry repeats theeSIM update process when the eSIM update status indicates failure. 4.The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the secure data connectionincludes a cellular wireless data connection between wireless device andthe network provisioning server.
 5. The wireless device of claim 1,wherein execution of the instructions further causes the processingcircuitry to: send a request for an eSIM update to the networkprovisioning server in accordance with a bearer independent protocol(BIP); and receive one or more responses that include the eSIM updatefrom the network provisioning server in accordance with the BIP.
 6. Thewireless device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry of thewireless device performs the eSIM update process responsive to receiptof a user-initiated update.
 7. The wireless device of claim 1, whereinthe processing circuitry of the wireless device performs the eSIM updateprocess in response to expiration of an update timer while the wirelessdevice is connected to an external power source.
 8. An apparatus forupdating electronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs) on an embeddedUniversal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) included in a secondarywireless device associated with a primary wireless device, the apparatuscomprising: processing circuitry of the secondary wireless deviceexternal to the eUICC, the processing circuitry comprising one or moreprocessors and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by theone or more processors, cause the processing circuitry to: perform aneSIM update process that includes: sending, to the eUICC, a command totrigger an eSIM update applet on the eUICC; receiving, from the eUICC, arequest to establish a secure data connection to a network provisioningserver; sending, to the primary wireless device, a request to establishthe secure data connection to the network provisioning server; andreceiving, from the eUICC, an eSIM update status; and repeat the eSIMupdate process until the eSIM update status indicates success or amaximum number of retries occurs.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, whereinexecution of the instructions further causes the processing circuitry toenter a reduced power state when the eSIM update status indicatessuccess.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitryrepeats the eSIM update process when the eSIM update status indicatesfailure.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the secure dataconnection includes a cellular wireless data connection between theprimary wireless device and the network provisioning server.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the secure data connection furtherincludes a non-cellular wireless data connection between the primarywireless device and the secondary wireless device.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the eUICC of the secondary wireless device isconfigured to: send a request for an eSIM update to the networkprovisioning server in accordance with a bearer independent protocol(BIP); and receive one or more responses that include the eSIM updatefrom the network provisioning server in accordance with the BIP.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein the processing circuitry performs the eSIMupdate process responsive to receipt of a notification from the primarywireless device, the notification indicating availability of an eSIMupdate for the eUICC.
 15. A wireless device configured for updatingelectronic Subscriber Identity Modules (eSIMs) on an embedded UniversalIntegrated Circuit Card (eUICC) included in the wireless device, thewireless device comprising: wireless circuitry comprising one or moreantennas; and the eUICC comprising a processor and a memory storinginstructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the eUICC to:receive, from processing circuitry of the wireless device external tothe eUICC, a command to trigger an eSIM update applet on the eUICC;provide, to the processing circuitry in response to the command totrigger the eSIM update applet, a request to establish a secure dataconnection to a network provisioning server; when the secure dataconnection is established between the eUICC and the network provisioningserver, retrieve an eSIM update from the network provisioning server inaccordance with a bearer independent protocol (BIP); and provide, to theprocessing circuitry, an eSIM update status that includes an indicationof whether the eSIM update succeeded or failed.
 16. The wireless deviceof claim 15, wherein the secure data connection includes a cellularwireless data connection between the wireless device and the networkprovisioning server.
 17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein securedata connection includes a cellular wireless data connection between asecond wireless device associated with the wireless device and thenetwork provisioning server.
 18. The wireless device of claim 17,wherein the secure data connection further includes a non-cellularwireless data connection between the wireless device and the secondwireless device.
 19. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein retrievalof the eSIM update includes the eUICC of the wireless device: sending arequest for the eSIM update to the network provisioning server inaccordance with the BIP; and receiving one or more responses thatinclude the eSIM update from the network provisioning server inaccordance with the BIP.
 20. The wireless device of claim 15, whereinthe processing circuitry of the wireless device external to the eUICCrepeats triggering of the eSIM update up to a maximum number of retrieswhen the eSIM update status indicates failure.